Where to stay in Lanzarote?

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote's main seaside resort

This seaside resort is the main one to stay in Lanzarote. It's everything you'd expect from a tourist destination geared towards idleness, relaxation and seaside activities. Boat trips from the marina, dolphin watching offshore, jet skiing and diving are all within easy reach.

With its long sandy beaches, notably Playa Grande and Los Pocillos to the east, it is populated by hotel complexes, often with swimming pools, and apartments for rent. The seafront, along Las Playas Avenue, is also bustling with a variety of stores, restaurants and bars. As you can see, you don't come to stay here for the authenticity, but rather for all the entertainment.

A former fishing port that has turned to tourism, the main reason for staying here is to enjoy the ocean. Considered a family resort, with its calm waters and all the amenities it has to offer, it's also a good place to stay and enjoy the nightlife with its bars and nightclubs.

Just 30 minutes from Papagayo Beach, but also from the points of interest of Timanfaya Volcanic National Park, it's also a relatively central location for exploring Lanzarote. Both to the west and to the east.

Playa Blanca, for the beautiful beaches of the southwest

Almost at the extreme south-west of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is a seaside resort where you can stay in Lanzarote. Smaller than Puerto del Carmen, it nonetheless boasts numerous resort hotels, making it easy to stay in a vacation rental. It is also home to several water parks with large pools and slides, ideal for families.

There are several stretches of white sand, including Flamingo, Dorada and Blanca, for which the town is named. The area around Blanca is home to most of the town's restaurants and the heart of life (mini-markets, small boutiques, cafés).

Well situated for discovering Timanfaya Park and the Papagayo beaches, it is less so for travelling to the north-east, even if the journey is acceptable (approx. 1 hour's drive). The Papagayo beaches are located just ten km east of Playa Blanca and are well worth a visit. Wild and unspoilt, they are often considered to be the most beautiful on Lanzarote, with their turquoise waters, white sand and rocky promontories giving the place a special cachet. If you choose to stay in this part of Lanzarote, you're bound to come back.

Last but not least, it's also the departure (and arrival) point for ferries to the neighboring island of Fuerteventura. It's an easy day trip, either on your own or as part of an excursion to the famous Corralejo dunes.

The other towns in the south of Lanzarote

In addition to the above-mentioned resorts, Lanzarote's south coast is home to many other places to stay. These include small towns and villages by the ocean. But also one last great tourist spot: Costa Deguise!

Situated towards the tip of the south coast, around ten kilometers from Arrecife, Costa Deguise is a great place to stay in large resorts. With its scattered beaches (playas de los Charcos, de las Cucharas, del Jablillo), aquapark and aquarium, it's a great place to relax with the family.

If you're looking for peace and quiet, Playa Honda or Puerto Calero are even quieter. If you book your stay in Lanzarote at the last minute, there's usually some accommodation still available.

As you can see, the southern part of Lanzarote is home to many waterside spots that have seen the development of tourist accommodation. Some are hotels, others are self-catering apartments or vacation homes for rent. They all have something to offer for a relaxing few days, with varying degrees of restaurants, shops and often a marina from which you can take a boat trip.

The capital Arrecife: a good idea for accommodation on Lanzarote?

Arrecife is Lanzarote's largest city and is considered its capital. This is where the airport is located, as well as the large ferry terminal from which boats arrive and depart for the other Canary Islands and southern Spain.

To stay in Arrecife means staying in a lively place, with numerous bars and restaurants, and a wide selection of accommodation. There are few resorts with swimming pools here, but rather classic urban hotels to suit all budgets. There are also apartments, especially with sea views.

Formerly a fishing port, today it's more likely to be home to pleasure boats. Points of interest in the capital include

• the Charco de San Gines lagoon, with its colorful little boats reflected in the water and old fishermen's houses in the background. It's a great place for a stroll, especially in the evening, with its many bars and restaurants.
• the old town, a pleasant place to stroll around the small squares and alleyways, and home to the beautiful church of San Ginés. You can also visit the San Gabriel castle and the San José fortress. These are home to museums of history and contemporary art respectively.

In addition to these cultural visits, you can also enjoy the El Reducto playa to the west.

Relatively centrally located for exploring Lanzarote, it is nonetheless a large city. To stay here is more suited to travellers who like to stay in urban areas, or to begin or end a tour of the island. In this case, spending a night or 2 here is a good way to get a feel for the island.

Staying inland

Beyond the ocean and volcanic zones, Lanzarote is home to a number of inland towns. It's one thing to visit them as part of your tour of the island, but it's usually possible to stay in them too. The perfect opportunity to experience local life in the evening!

Among the most noteworthy are :

• Teguise, the former capital known for its Santa Bárbara castle, the Palacio Spinola, or the church of Guadalupe. Nearby is also the Cactus Garden, a must-see park during your stay in Lanzarote.
• San Bartolomé, geographically considered the most central of Lanzarote. It is famous for its pretty Leon y Castillo square and the church of Saint Bartholomew.

A popular stopover on a cultural trip to Lanzarote, there are a few restaurants to eat in, but not many hotels. Staying in Lanzarote's inland areas not only gives you access to a wider and more diversified range of accommodation, but also generally lowers your budget. They are often more affordable than on the coast. On the other hand, a car is compulsory here.

Accommodation in the north-east of Lanzarote

The northeast of the island is also volcanic. Less touristy as a result, it is wilder and more authentic. In this area, the winds are stronger and the sea rougher. As a result, the waves attract surfers and other water sports enthusiasts (windsurfers, kitesurfers, etc.), less so than families who prefer to stay in the south.

To stay here, you need to be well-informed. People come here above all to enjoy nature and get away from the mass tourism of the rest of Lanzarote. But also to be as close as possible:

• the volcanoes, with their surrounding hiking trails and various viewpoints (or “miradors”)
• small fishing ports, such asOrzola andArrieta
• the magnificent and immense Playa de Caleta de Famara, famous for its length (almost 2 km) and the cliffs that line it

Orzola is also the departure point for the ferry to the island of La Graciosa, a few kilometers further north. You can stay overnight on this island, but accommodation is scarce. It's mainly a day trip to discover its vast stretches of fine sand and turquoise waters. Clearly the least touristy of the Canary Islands, the roads are actually unpaved tracks!

The best place to stay in the area is at Playa de Famara. There are no hotels here, just small houses or apartments. As you'll have guessed, you can spend the night here either as a surfing enthusiast. Or for 2 or 3 nights as a stopover on a road trip to Lanzarote, where you want to diversify your accommodation and resort experience.